Look! Up in the Sky!

Look! Up in the Sky!

It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s… a flying lawn chair?

Special to the Times County residents may have noticed a couple of slow-moving aircraft in the Marion and West Memphis skies of late. Looking a lot like a parachute, close observation reveals that unlike regular parachutes, these are bigger.

And instead of only going down, they go straight — and up!

Formally called “Powered Paragliders” or just “Paramotors.” these unique aircraft operate under FAA rules, however they do not require any federal license, medical exams or technically even any formal training (though the pilots acknowledge attempting to teach yourself, is as foolhardy as trying to learn dentistry on an alligator). With proper training and modern certified equipment it can be among the safest forms of aviation.

Paramotors differ from Paragliders mainly in that they utilize a 2 stroke motor and propeller on the pilots back or on a very light wheeled vehicle, whereas Paragliders require either mountain to run off, or tow winch to become airborne (exactly like hang gliders), and thereafter relying on rising columns of air to remain aloft.

Experienced glider pilots routinely travel 100 miles or more in good conditions.. without a motor. In our area, lacking sufficient mountains, local pilots rely on the motors to get and remain airborne. There are two pilots actively flying in the area, and can launch and land on foot from many large clearings, no runway required. Typically flown early in the morning or just before sunset when the air is much calmer.

The craft, following FAA rules are capable of reaching 18,000 feet (you read that right), though the vast majority of flying is in the 1,000 foot or lower area.

There is another pilot in the county who has completed training and just

ensuring his gear is ready before attempting local flights, he will be using a tricycle launching and landing system, with more who are interested as well others across the river.

The two current pilots Chad Blanchard and David Corbett (both of Marion) received training just west of Chicago, Illinois, with BlackHawk Paramotors, David has also been receiving training from instructor Britton Shaw in the Fort Smith area.

So, if you look to the air, hear a small engine and see a parachute flying by, it’s just the “Crittenden County Cloud Dancers” sailing by.

For more information, check out their Facebook page, or check it out in person.

“We’re going to set up a ‘Meet and Greet’, or ‘Introduction to Flying Lawnchairs’ or whatever for Saturday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m.” said Corbett. “We’ll be at the Esparanza Bonanza pavilion, weather depending… may be some demonstrations.”

By David Corbett